Zubeen Day Observed Centrally in Morigaon by Assam Sahitya Sabha

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Dalim Phukan.
Morigaon, September 19: The first death anniversary of Zubeen Garg, the illustrious cultural icon and recipient of the title Sangeet Sudhakar conferred by the Assam Sahitya Sabha, was observed centrally as Zubeen Day in Morigaon today under the initiative of the Assam Sahitya Sabha.
Organised in collaboration with the Morigaon District Sahitya Sabha and hosted by the Morigaon Satadal Sakha Sahitya Sabha at the Gandhi Bhawan auditorium in Morigaon town, the programme included a memorial meeting and a musical programme in the afternoon.
Participating in the programme, Assam Sahitya Sabha president Dr. Basanta Kumar Goswami paid floral tribute to a portrait of Zubeen Garg. This was followed by a memorial meeting presided over by Assam Sahitya Sabha vice-president Padum Rajkhowa.
Speaking as the designated speaker, former general secretary of the Assam Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Jagadish Patgiri, said that Zubeen Garg was not merely a singer or actor, but an extraordinary artistic personality with a compassionate heart and a powerful voice of national consciousness. His films, songs, poems, speeches and interviews reflected deep expressions of Assam, the Assamese people, society, love, pain and protest against injustice.
He said Zubeen Garg had regarded music and humanity as the fundamental forces of life and dreamed of a beautiful and just world for humanity. According to Dr. Patgiri, collecting, preserving and studying his entire body of creative works and presenting their significance before the world would be a meaningful tribute to the exceptional artist.
“May his melodies continue to flow from generation to generation like the eternal Alaknanda—for humanity and for humankind,” he added.
Prominent music artiste, writer and lyricist Ranjan Kumar Bezbaruah, Assam Sahitya Sabha general secretary Debajit Bora, several office-bearers and other distinguished personalities were present at the programme. A welcome address was delivered by Ponadevi Mahanta, president of the Morigaon Satadal Sahitya Sabha.
Earlier in the morning, the Assam Sahitya Sabha flag was hoisted by Dr. Harmohan Kalita, president of the Morigaon District Sahitya Sabha. This was followed by garlanding the bust of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa and the portrait of Zubeen Garg. A collective tribute was then paid to the beloved artiste and Sangeet Sudhakar Zubeen Garg through the rendition of his song Mayabini.
The day-long programme concluded in the evening with the lowering of the Assam Sahitya Sabha flag.
Meanwhile, Zubeen Day was also observed at the office of the Morigaon District Journalists’ Association. Association president Ajit Sharma lit a ceremonial lamp and offered floral tribute before Zubeen Garg’s portrait. The programme was conducted by the association’s magazine editor Bharat Kumar Nath. Former presidents Pratap Hazarika, Mahendranath Hazarika and Birinchi Kumar Sharma, secretary Gulzarilal Sharma, along with other office-bearers and members, were present.
On the occasion of Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary, several other organisations in Morigaon also observed Zubeen Smriti Divas at different locations. The Morigaon District Bihuwa-Bihuwati Artistes’ Association held a programme at the association’s office; the Morigaon Town Business Community organised one at the Padum Pukhuri premises; the Morigaon District Students’ Union and Sadar Students’ Union held a programme at Sadar Bihutali; and the Morigaon District Jatiyatabadi Yuva-Chatra Parishad observed the day at Motiram Bora Udyan.
In addition, the Samalaya Theatre Group of Morigaon observed Zubeen Day at its office by garlanding his portrait and offering floral tributes. The members also paid heartfelt homage to the beloved artiste through his songs and musical performances.